Category Archives: Books

03.01.11

My Natural Curiosity Got The Best Of Me.

I love coffee table books.  Albertus Seba’s “Cabinet of Natural Curiosities” has been on my wish list for some time now.  I kicked myself for not buying a copy for $200 at Anthropologie a few years ago. Now, in minimal production, I am hardly in the market to buy a copy at a $500-$700 pricetag.
A few weeks ago, after seeing this post on Armonia Decors via House of Turquoise I bit the bullet and scored a copy (at $200) here.  Literally two days later I received my InStyle Magazine to see this.
See anything familiar?

01.13.11

A Good Read.

There is nothing I love more than snuggling up with my girls and reading a good book.  Each night they get to pick two books before going to bed.  This is my special time with each of them; a time to unwind, connect and best of all- schnoog (our word for snuggling.)  This is so important because not only does it develop a love for reading at an early age, but it breaks the cycle of our crazy day.  Now that E is a little older , books are the segue to our nightly “pillow talk” where I really get to see what’s going on in that little noggin.  Sadly, during the week, this is the only one-on-one time that we get.
So I thought I’d share with all of you some Salmon family favorites; past and present.  Each of these hold a special meaning in my heart. Here are the children’s books that made it onto Kiki’s List:

1. You’re My Little Love Bug– $9.35
2. Guess How Much I Love You– $11.55
3. Welcome to Your World, Baby– $5.99
4. Pinkalicious– $10.52
5. I Love You, Little One– $7.99
6. Bad Dog, Marley– $12.23
7. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom– $12.23
8. The Very Hungry Caterpillar– $5.99
9. Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?– $11.55
10. I’m a Big Sister!– $4.99
11. The Giving Tree– $9.93
12. That’s not my puppy….– $8.99

12.30.10

Slim Aarons: Once Upon a Time.

Known as a high-society photographer, Slim Aarons captured the likes of Kings and Queens, Presidents past and present and the who’s who of Hollywood. As a lifestyle photographer he worked for many publications such as Life and Town & Country to name a few.
I asked for the Once Upon a Time collection of Slim Aarons‘ for Christmas, and I have so enjoyed flipping through the pages. What an escape- to see how the other half lives with lavish pool parties, royal picnics outside of their castles, and extravagant vacations in the Mediterranean. Aarons passed away in 2006, but this book gives you such a great feel for his personality, as he describes each shot in his own words.
His photographs are so beautiful, many people are using them as artwork in their home. You can buy his prints here.  Here are some of my favorites from the book:
Nice Pool, 1955.
Jackie Kennedy, April in Paris Ball, 1959.
A Man’s Work– a young Hugh Hefner surrounded by Playboy Bunnies at the Playboy Club in Chicago, 1960.



A Lilly Flower– Lilly Pulitzer in 1968. Opposite: The models in Palm Beach, modeling Lilly’s spring line for Town & Country, 1964


All Mine, 1968



Pool Gossip (Palm Springs), 1970.

Joan Collins on her pink bed, with her pink poodle, 1955.
If you are a coffee table book person.. I suggest adding this one to your collection. It’s a great escape into the most extravagant of fairytales.

12.06.10

Tis The Season: My Christmas List.

Mike and I never really do big gifts for each other for Christmas. We tell the girls at every holiday (Christmas, birthdays, Thanksgiving, etc.) that the only thing we want is peace and quiet. It has become a Salmon family joke…

K: “What’s the one thing that Mommy wants for Christmas?”
E: “Peace and quiet. But you’re not going to get it!”

We are also saving for our trip to Turks and Caicos in January, so that is Santa’s major gift to all of us. That being said, for all of his strengths, my husband does not have the best track record in the gift giving department. Generally on Christmas Eve I get the “Hey, I need to go run and errand” line. This year I am going to help him out.. and I know that he is a daily Kiki’s List reader, so there are no excuses, Michael Salmon. Here is a list of 12 things for you to select from, my love. I certainly don’t expect all of them, but I sure could use a few. A plethora of items to choose from! And truth be told, if I could get a clean and well-organized garage, I would forgo them all!


4. Red Door Gift Card– Price varies
9. Miz Mooz Amelia Boot- $219.95


All of the beauty items are refills on my daily supplies.

Love these earrings. 1.) My birthstone is amethyst. 2.) They match an amethyst necklace that I picked up at a consignment shop in Venice perfectly!
Every year I ask for the same thing (besides peace and quiet) and that is a spa gift certificate so that I can get a massage and facial.

I have been waiting for Christmas to get new coffee table books… A great (easy) gift.


We are in desperate need of new towels, and I found these amazing bamboo towels at Valerianne made by a green company named Nandina. Nandina does not use chemical dye for coloring, their manufacturing plant is powered by wind and bamboo is considered a sustainable plant– very eco smart!



The bamboo towels are VERY absorbent, dry quickly and launder beautifully. The best part– no mold, mildew or bacteria can grow on bamboo so the towels will never get a musty smell to them.

I broke my magic wand mashing potatoes. In desperate need of a new one.


We received 12 red wine and 12 white wine glasses from Pottery Barn for our wedding. I think we are down to 4 white and 6 red. Not sure what happened there…..


I saw these boots on a coworker in California. I hunted her down and asked who made them.. Love.


07.01.10

Freshen Up Your Bookcase.


I am so happy that two of my favorite things have come together as of late: color + organization. Speaking as a woman who has her closet color coordinated, I too have organized my cookbooks in a rainbow-like pattern. It just brings so much life to my bookshelf, and becomes a design element in itself. Ahhhhhh… it’s like a little rainbow in my very own kitchen.

06.26.10

Life’s Little Handbook.


This is my little handbook. I bought it for my husband as a stocking stuffer two years ago, and have gotten my $9.00 back tenfold. I read two pages each morning before I start my day. It’s filled with little reminders of how to live in a more simple, joyful manner. I also gave a copy of this to all of my co-workers for Christmas, and many have told me that it has affected them in many positive ways. I truly believe that if everyone picked up a copy… the world would be a better place.